ctbeck11
Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
November 15, 2020 (edited February 23, 2021)
Nose - creamy cherry, honey, apple, plum, clove, cinnamon, allspice, rich caramel, toffee, brown sugar, graham cracker, vanilla, dusty corn, sweet oak, plantain, sweet tobacco, leather, bubble gum, wheat, powdered sugar, light campfire smokiness, mild to moderate ethanol burn.
Taste - luxardo cherry, apple, plum, butterscotch, toffee, creamy vanilla, leather, honey, raspberry, cinnamon, brown sugar, black pepper, bubble gum, tobacco, banana, allspice, nutmeg, clove, wheat, strong barrel notes, moderate alcohol bite, finishing long with cherry, tobacco, dark red fruit, and baking spice flavors.
This is a very good bottle of bourbon. Definitely in the top tier that I’ve tried, and the only wheated bourbon I’ve really enjoyed. It’s deliciously rich and complex. So, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is a very high quality whiskey, one that is further complemented by the higher proof.
Outside of the wheaters (because they’re a low bar for me), do I like this better than Booker’s? Yes. Do I like it better than ECBP? Maybe, maybe not depending on the day and particular release. I can pick up ECBP for $60 easily. At $120 retail, I think this is a reasonable buy for 15 year old, high proof, quality bourbon, but I wouldn’t say it’s a great value. At $2000+ secondary prices, this is a status symbol to impress friends and family. For reference, I paid $60 for a generous pour at a restaurant. I was happy to pay that, knowing I’ll never own a bottle myself.
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@dhsilv2 Absolutely. I would likely pick one up if I found it for $200 or so, but that’s not the world we’ll probably ever live in again (apart from winning one of the state/store lotteries). @ContemplativeFox This (and the rest of the Van Winkle line) gets a lot of mixed reviews and hate due to the secondary market madness, but putting that aside, it’s definitely worth shelling out for a pour.
Great tasting notes. I'm looking forward to someday trying a pour but likewise never owning a bottle.
I do think these bottles hit a really nice profile that's hard to replicate. But hard pass at more than double retail.